PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Saito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Alberto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saito
vs
Alberto

185 cm
26
193 lbs
17 - 5 - 1

192 cm
22
190 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

PWNAGE™ $8-$20 Clothing - 300+ Designs

:: Happy Pills :: 159 Stamina & Energy $125!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hajime Saito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jose Alberto!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alberto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saito.

Saito gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alberto to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Saito is looking for a triangle but Alberto pushes his legs off easily.
Saito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alberto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saito looking for a sweep. Not yet Saito, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito gets back to half guard.
Saito is looking to improve his position.
Saito is refusing to be controlled, as Alberto sits in half guard.
Saito is looking to improve his position.
Alberto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alberto is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Saito wants to control but Alberto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alberto trying to mount his opponent but Saito defends it.
Alberto stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saito doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alberto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saito won't be happy with that.
Saito is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alberto wants to control but Saito is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Saito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saito is trying to work for a sweep but Alberto has mounted him!
Saito tries to lock up and control but Alberto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Alberto landing strikes from the mount and Saito is in trouble!
Saito can't escape the position.
Alberto controlling the pace for now.
Saito is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alberto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Alberto prevents Saito from getting the reversal.
Saito slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Saito is trying to get back to full guard.
Alberto is taking a breather. Saito says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Saito taking some punishment here, with Alberto in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alberto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saito shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saito is looking to take a break and control but Alberto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saito prevents Alberto from standing back up.
Alberto won't allow Saito to pass to mount.
Alberto trying to hold on to Saito's head to control him but Saito postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Saito works his foot free and advances to mount.

Saito working for a guillotine from mount but Alberto is in no mood to give up.
Alberto is looking to improve his position but Saito isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saito is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Alberto is surviving well by controlling Saito's body position as best he can.
Saito avoids the attempt from Alberto to control.
Alberto regains half guard.

Saito is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jose Alberto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saito looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alberto controlling the position well.
Saito passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alberto wants to hold on but Saito pushes him away.
Alberto is trying to escape the mount.
Alberto tries to lock up and control but Saito gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Alberto is desperately trying to improve his position but Saito has a good base and remains in mount.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Saito wants to take Alberto's back here but Alberto is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Saito goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Alberto is on top in guard.
Alberto with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saito controls Alberto momentarily but Alberto frees himself.

Saito isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Alberto stacks Saito on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Alberto!
Saito tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Alberto presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Saito is looking to get to half guard.
Alberto looking to control but Saito is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alberto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Saito can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Alberto prevents Saito from getting the reversal.
Alberto raining down shots from the mount!
Saito can't escape the position.
Alberto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Saito holds on for dear life.
Alberto has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Saito's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alberto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saito fails with the takedown

and Alberto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alberto.
Alberto stopping the sweep attempt from Saito.
Saito is looking to sweep but instead, Alberto has passed into half guard.
Saito trying to control but Alberto postures up.
Saito is looking for a sweep. Alberto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saito wants to get back to full guard but Alberto has mounted him!
Saito sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito moves into full guard.
Alberto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saito wants to sweep but no luck.
Saito is looking to sweep but instead, Alberto has passed into half guard.
Saito gets full guard.
Alberto trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saito keeping full guard, as Alberto tries to pass.
Saito tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Saito has an active guard here but Alberto has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alberto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alberto working the head and body with strikes.
Saito blocking the ground and pound attempt from Alberto.
Saito works his way to full guard. Good work.
Saito is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Saito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alberto controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alberto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saito trying to control the position.
Alberto is stalling in the full guard.
Saito wants to control but Alberto passes easily into half guard.
Alberto trying to control the pace.
Saito trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saito tries to get to full guard but Alberto has control of the leg.
Saito wants to control but Alberto is keeping busy.
Alberto is trying to control. Saito wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alberto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Alberto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Alberto really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Saito shoots and misses

and Alberto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alberto.
Alberto wants to pass the guard but Saito is keeping the position.
Alberto throws and elbow that misses. Saito uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alberto's guard. Nice move by Saito!
Saito looking to pass the guard.
Saito stands and throws Alberto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Alberto prevents Saito from moving into mount.
Saito works to advance to full mount. Alberto defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Alberto has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Alberto rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Saito trying to control the action but Alberto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saito is looking to advance position but Alberto won't allow it.
Saito is working hard here to advance position.
Alberto holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Saito wants to control but Alberto is keeping him busy.
Saito trying to mount his opponent but Alberto defends it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Saito is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Alberto is looking for a sweep. Saito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Saito seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alberto is pressing down on Saito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Saito passes Alberto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saito is pressing down on Alberto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alberto is holding on for now.
Alberto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saito's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saito's back!
Alberto controls the position.
Saito tries to escape the position.
Saito trying to control the hands but Alberto won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito wants to escape the position.
Alberto is not going to allow Saito to sit and survive in this position.
Alberto scores with punches and elbows.
Alberto is trying to stick to Saito's back but Saito is turning into Alberto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alberto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Saito.
Saito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alberto is keeping the position for now.
Saito sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alberto's guard.
Saito wants to pass the guard but Alberto is defending well.
Saito passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alberto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Alberto trying to control here.
Alberto moves into full guard.
Saito forces his way into half guard.
Alberto is trying to maintain the position but Saito is very close to passing his half guard.
Alberto tries to roll over but Saito keeps him under control.

Saito is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alberto defends it well.
Saito trying to mount his opponent but Alberto defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jose Alberto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saito tries for a takedown but Alberto circles away easily

and Alberto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Saito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Alberto from controlling successfully.
Alberto content to stall in guard here.

Saito working for submissions but it's allowed Alberto to get to half guard.
Saito tries to roll over but Alberto keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alberto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Saito is pressing down on Alberto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Alberto advances to half guard.
Saito tries to roll over but Alberto keeps him under control.
Saito is trying to maintain the position but Alberto is very close to passing his half guard.
Saito is looking to improve his position.
Saito gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alberto trying to control the position from guard on top but Saito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saito is trying to control the position but Alberto postures up.
Alberto passes Saito's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Saito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saito.
Saito is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saito is trying to control the position but Alberto postures up.
Alberto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saito swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alberto preventing the sweep.
Saito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Saito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Saito looking to control.
Saito keeping moving, preventing Alberto from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Alberto enables Saito to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Alberto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alberto looking to control.
Saito passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Saito tries to move to mount but Alberto blocks the move with his legs.
Saito has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Alberto!
Alberto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Alberto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hajime Saito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alberto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Saito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hajime Saito.
Well Alberto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 46:49
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 46:49
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Alberto!